Government Says Swine Flu is Linked to 11 More Child Deaths

WASHINGTON (AP) - The deaths of 11 more children from swine fluhave been reported in the past week. And government health expertssay the numbers are "very sobering."

In past flu seasons, there have been 40 to 50 child deaths for the entire season -- but more than 40 child deaths from swine flu have been reported just in September and early October.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says about half of the child deaths since September have been among teenagers.

And overall for the country, deaths from pneumonia and flu-like illnesses have passed what CDC considers an epidemic level. About 6percent of all doctor visits are for flu-like illnesses, levels not normally seen until later in the fall.

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